The show's producers say they needed to shake things up, but fans are upset by
the death. Warning: spoiler alert

The long-running animated American sitcom Family Guy has killed off Brian Griffin, one of its central characters.

The character, the family’s talking dog, has been part of the show since it began in 1999, but the show’s writers have decided it is time for him to go.

The dog, voiced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, was run over by a car in an episode entitled "Life of Brian". He said goodbye to the family in an emotional scene. Brian’s best friend Stewie Griffin, a precociously intelligent baby, was unable to save the dog in time.

The character’s exit prompted an outcry from upset fans on Twitter. Some debated whether Brian’s death was genuine but the show confirmed that the exit was final with this tweet from their official account: "RIP Brian. #familyguy".

A replacement arrived in the form of a new tough-talking family dog called Vinnie, voiced by Tony Sirico, the actor best known for playingPaulie ‘Walnuts’ Gautieri in The Sopranos.